'A quality product'

Minor league baseball players don't make millions of dollars. They don't fly first class. And they aren't household names.

That doesn't mean, though, that they can't play ball.

As longtime Berryhill American Legion Post 165 manager Steve Cronkright noted, area baseball fans can expect to see some good, young players when Midland gets its minor league team.

"You'll see a variety of talent. … You're probably going to see a lot of raw talent, but it'll be a good step above college ball," said Cronkright, whose younger brother Dan spent four years in the Chicago White Sox farm system.

"I think people would be surprised at how good the baseball is at (the minor league) level," agreed Bullock Creek baseball coach Bruce Dickey. "A lot of the kids are coming right out of the Big Ten or (other major college conferences), and it is very good baseball."

Brett Haring knows a little bit about the quality of minor league ball. A former All-State centerfielder and state champion at Coleman, a former Central Michigan University pitcher and a former player in the Cincinnati Reds' and Texas Rangers' farm systems, Haring is now the pitching coach for Northwood University.

"It's going to be good baseball," said Haring, who played minor league ball alongside six different players, including current Reds' star Adam Dunn.

"(Minor league fans) will get to see guys who definitely will end up in the big leagues," he added. " … These kids are definitely playing to get to the next level."

And quality baseball is something which the mid-Michigan community will probably get behind, noted Dickey.

"I'm a firm believer that the best baseball in the state is played right here in the middle of Michigan, as far as high school baseball is concerned," Dickey said. "This area is very supportive of baseball, whether it's Little League or (American) Legion, or high school, or whatever."

Steve Cronkright added that local interest in baseball is strong enough that a minor league team could thrive in Midland even after the initial novelty wears off.

"I think initially it will draw people, because of the newness of it. And eventually it will generate even more interest in baseball in the surrounding area," Cronkright said.

Dickey said he was very excited about the news that a minor league baseball team is coming to Midland. He added that he is equally excited about the recent speculation that a professional women's fastpitch softball team might be locating in Midland in the future.